Really Pissed Off!

On December 18th, The FCC will host an Open Meeting to decide whether to allow Corporate America to monopolize the ownership of newspapers, television and radio, within a local area. In spite of outrage by the General Public, the House of Representatives and the Senate, Chairman Kevin J. Martin plans to give away the store and allow the “Corporate Media Giants” to receive an early Christmas present! Unfortunately, it is at the expense of the American Public and the result will be that all you hear, see or read from now on will be controlled by Corporate Media, who want to make you dumber than you already are! To make this possible, Chairman Martin has told both the House and Senate last week that he plans to go ahead and lift the 32 year ban on cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcast stations, which so far has allowed the American Public some diversity in the content of what you read and what you hear.

In 1975, the FCC created a Cross-Ownership Rule that forbid the ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station within a local area. The belief was that ownership of both would create an unfair monopoly, allow a too powerful voice in the community and limit diversity in the listening area. It did not forbid newspapers from owning broadcast stations in other areas of the country, as the New York Times and the Washington Post owns broadcast stations throughout the country. The Media Ownership Rules are explicit, as they hold both parties accountable, and have tried to make a level playing field for both newspapers and broadcast media. In 2003, then Chairman Michael Powell of the FCC tried to loosen ownership, and nearly succeeded. He was stopped only when three million Americans contacted the FCC and the Congress to stop it. It worked! In 2003, the American Public was relatively unaware as to what Powell and the FCC were planning, as the American Media was silent on this issue. The news came, from all places, the BBC who informed the American Public. As of today, if you “Search” any of the media giants on the web, including the BBC, for any articles for “Kevin Martin FCC vote on December 18, 2007”, and there a 0 results. Try it on Google, hundreds of articles pop up, most of them blogs! Is there something that Corporate Media doesn’t want you to know? You bet there is!

This is a good news/bad news situation. The bad news is that the Bush Administration has made it a priority to place these changes into effect and their appointment, Chairman Kevin Martin is on a crusade to do so! The good news is that two of the members of the FCC have been on a crusade of their own. Commissioners Michael J. Copps and Jonathan S. Adelstein have issued a Joint Statement into the minutes of the FCC condemning this move, but they are only two of a five man Commission. This not the first time that Commissioner Cobbs has spoken up, when others have remained quiet. He has appeared several times on PBS, most recently on Bill Moyers Journal and more recently interviewed on December 3rd by Louise Witt from Salon.com in which he warns the American Public of the dangers of “Big Media” talking over all of what we read and hear! He’s definitely one big pain in the ass for Chairman Martin and the Bush Administration. He was definitely one for former Commissioner Michael Powell. The Angeles Times published an article on December 14th that “the Defiant FCC chief refuses to delay vote.” On the same day, Senators Kerry and Obama threatened to ask the Appropriations Committee to deny funding on this decision as the Senate Commerce Committee had unanimously approved legislation for a six month delay on the cross-ownership vote last week. The outrage extends to Republican Senators, such as Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi and Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, who demanded that the FCC delay the vote.

Now it’s time for you to step up to the plate, as you did in 2003! Facing nearly the same situation, 3 million Americans told the FCC and Congress that they did not want consolidation of the media. Will we again be able to find 3 million more Americans to do the same? The airways still belong to you….at least for the present. If Martin and the Bush Administration have their way, you and I are going to loose the airways to Corporate Media, and once lost, we’ll never get them back. Even if the FCC votes in favor of it, Congress can override it as it did in 2003, but only if their constituencies at home demand it! The ball is in your hands. Don’t drop it!

Here is a reminder of what happens when the Corporate Media Giants control what you hear on the airways! It’s no joke!